Fix your tie (FYT)

ABSTRACT

A necktie restraining device that restrains unwanted movement of neckties worn by a wearer along the front portion of a dress shirt having uniformly spaced fastening buttons. The necktie restraining is composed of an elongated member and a horizontal member attached transversely to the elongated member. The necktie restraining device has three uniformly spaced button holes disposed vertically on the elongated member that align directly and engages the uniformly spaced fastening buttons on the front of a dress shirt. The horizontal member of the necktie restraining device is attached to the elongated member between the middle button hole and either of the button holes located on each end of the elongated member, forming a loop that enables the narrower end of a necktie to be inserted through the loop permitting essential vertical movement of the neck apparel along the restraining device, while generally restraining all other movement.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Please refer to application No. 60,867,879, which is the provisionalapplication number associated with this non-provisional application.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTINGCOMPACT DISC APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Neckties have traditionally been a prominent part of men's apparel.Recent trends also disclose an increase in women who wear neck neckties.Given the prominence of neckties, it is important to keep the neckapparel neat, clean, and in place in its proper position which isvertically against the front of the shirt or blouse of the wearer.

Unfortunately however, the traditional knotted necktie includes at leastone unrestrained end opposite the neck of the wearer. This unrestrainedend is typically very difficult to keep in place. This unrestrainedportion receives the majority of occurrences of soiled or out of placeneck apparel. Tie-wearing consumers are often seen adjusting the tie atthe chest as the tie flips, flaps, and flops giving an unprofessionaland untidy appearance.

Other prior art attempts reflected in U.S. patents below have met withlimited success for a number of reasons.

-   -   U.S. Pat. No. 4,827,576    -   U.S. Pat. No. 4,972,523    -   U.S. Pat. No. 4,554,710    -   U.S. Pat. No. 5,109,547

Fix Your Tie is a simple solution to the problem of off-center ties.This clever accessory will attach to the buttons of any dress shirt andwill accept a tie to hold the neckpiece in place for the duration ofwear.

Several prior art attempts at providing neck apparel restraints have metwith limited success for a number of reasons. For example, tie pinspermanently damage a necktie and become inoperative whenever either theclasp or pin portion become lost or separated. Tie bars similarlypermanently wrinkle the necktie. Further, tie pins or bars are not anaccepted part of women's jewelry. Most importantly, both tie pins andtie bars restrict the vertical movement of the neck apparel on thewearer, often causing the neck apparel to pull down from the neck of thewearer or causing a large bow in the upper portion of the neck apparelbetween the neck of the wearer and the tie pin or bar.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Fix Your Tie (FYT) was designed to provide a tie-wearing consumer with abetter way to secure his tie to his shirt. This product provides a moreprofessional way to wear a tie as it prevents the tie from sliding,blowing, and otherwise moving from position. The easy to attach productwill slide onto the tie and secure to the buttons of a shirt to keep thetie in place at all times.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

For a more complete understanding of the FYT invention, and for furtherdetails and advantages thereof, reference is now made to the followingDetailed Description taken in conjunction with the following drawing, inwhich:

FIG. 1 illustrates the FYT in plan view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The Fix Your Tie (FYT) neck tie restraining device can be used with anytype of neck ware apparel that lies in an elongated vertical positionagainst the front of a shirt or blouse of a wearer. The FYT necktierestraining device is comprised of two distinct sections:

-   -   1) An elongated member (1) that is approximately 1 inch wide and        a length to accommodate three uniformly spaced button holes (2)        the size of said button holes being the same as fastening button        holes located vertically on the front of men's dress shirts and        allowing a distance of no more than ½ inch between each end of        the elongated member and the edge of the button hole on each end        of the elongated member. The three button holes (2) on the        elongated member are located such that they align directly and        engage the fastening buttons on the front of men's dress shirts.    -   2) A horizontal member (3) that is attached (sewn) transversely        to the elongated member in a location between the middle button        hole and either button hole located near the edge of the        elongated member. The horizontal member is attached transversely        to the elongated member in a manner such that a loop is formed        that allows the narrower end of a necktie to pass through the        loop freely and unencumbered.

The FYT restraining device is used by first attaching the elongatedmember (1) to the dress shirt using the three button holes (2) on theelongated member, with the horizontal member (3) (or loop) end locatedin the upward position closest to the neck of the user.

Once the FYT is attached to the shirt and with the necktie properly tiedaround the users shirt collar, the user then inserts the smaller andnarrower necktie section (which lies under the wider outer side of thenecktie) into the loop (3) on the FYT and also through the loop locatedthat is typically attached to the underside of the outer tie portion.

The FYT allows the necktie a significant degree of movement in thevertical direction while significantly reducing the degree of movementin the horizontal direction. The allowance of vertical movement for thenecktie enables better response to the user's various positions whilemaintaining a neat appearance by keeping the necktie straight. Forinstance, when a user is in a sitting position, the necktie may slide upor down, adjusting the to the user positions, while not bunching,buckling, or curling and remaining flat against the user's shirt.

The FYT necktie is manufactured using the same range of fabric material,colors, and patterns as dress shirts as well as the same material as theneckties. The elongated member (1) of the FYT can be manufactured usinga single layer of fabric or double layer of fabric. In either case, theelongated member (1) of the FYT has a single line of stitching along theperimeter of the rectangular vertical piece and located 1/16 of an inchfrom the edge of the vertical piece. The stitching can be the same colorof the fabric or a different color depending on the effect. Thehorizontal loop (3) of the FYT is also made of the same material as theelongated member (1) and is sewn to the elongated member (1) in alocation half the distance between the middle button-hole and either ofthe outer button-holes. Each end of the horizontal member (3) (or loop)that is attached to the elongated member (1) is located 1/16 of an inchinside of the stitching (4) spanning the perimeter of the elongatedmember (1).

FYT can be packaged in the following manners:

-   -   a. As an accessory for dress shirts when made of the identical        fabric as the dress shirt;    -   b. As an accessory for neckties when made of the identical        fabric as the necktie;    -   c. As a separate accessory made of fabric typical to men's dress        shirts and in the full multitude of colors available for the        resulting fabrics.

The FYT may include a label on the elongated member (1) on the sideopposite the side where the horizontal member (loop) (3) is attached, ormay include written or printed indicia such as a label, monogram, orembroidery on the horizontal loop (3) side of the elongated member (1),in a location suitable for the user. This allows the FYT to bepersonalized for the user or marked with a distributor's or clothingstore's private label.

The advantages of the FYT over other similar neckwear restrainingdevices are:

-   -   a. Three button holes that allow a more secure attachment to the        dress shirt    -   b. The width of the FYT allowing for easier insertion of the        narrower portion of the necktie located under the outer, wider        portion of the necktie    -   c. The ability to manufacture and package with the same material        as dress shirts, neck ties or as a separate accessory.

Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinary skill in the art areconsidered to be within the scope of the present invention which is notto be limited except by the claims which follow.

1. A necktie restraining device for restraining movement of theplurality of necktie apparel worn by a user along the front portion of amen's dress shirt having uniformly spaced fastening buttons, saidnecktie restraining device disposed vertically and parallel to saidnecktie apparel and proximate an unrestrained portion of said neckapparel, said necktie restraining device slidably engaging with andinterposed behind a transversely arranged necktie member disposed onsaid unrestrained portion of said neck apparel for permitting verticalmovement of the transversely arranged neck apparel member and theunrestrained portion of said neck apparel along said vertically disposedrestraining device and generally restraining all other movement, saidnecktie restraining device that is comprised of an elongated member offabric or cloth with three button holes disposed vertically the size ofwhich being the same as fastening button hole sizes located verticallyon the front of men's dress shirts, said three button-holes on theelongated member of fabric being spaced the same distance apart on theelongated member so that they align directly with the fastening buttonson the front of men's dress shirts allowing the elongated member toattach directly to the front of the dress shirts using the fasteningbuttons on such said shirt, said elongated member being a length toaccommodate the uniformly spaced button holes and allowing a distance ofno more than ½ inch between the end of the elongated member and the edgeof the button hole on each end of the elongated member, said elongatedmember being a width of approximately one (1) inch, said elongatedmember having a horizontal member of cloth approximately ¼ to 1 inch inwidth that is attached to the horizontal member transversely at alocation between the middle button hole and either of the button holeslocated on each end of the elongated member with a minimum spacing of ½inch from either button hole, said horizontal member is attached totransversely to the elongated member to form a loop of size that enablesthe narrow or smaller end of a necktie to pass through the loopunencumbered, said horizontal member is comprised of the same fabric orcloth as the elongated member, said horizontal member is attached to theelongated member by stitching,
 2. The necktie restraining device recitedin claim 1 wherein said fabric or cloth is the same fabric or cloth,including colors, textures, patterns, and quality of cloth or fabric,used to make dress shirts for men, which would allow said necktierestraining device.
 3. The necktie restraining device recited in claim 1wherein said fabric or cloth is the same fabric or cloth, includingcolors, textures, patterns, and quality of cloth or fabric, used to makeneckties.
 4. The necktie restraining device recited in claim 1 whereinsaid device includes a label.
 5. The necktie restraining device recitedin claim 1 wherein said device includes a monogram.
 6. The necktierestraining device recited in claim 1 wherein said device includesembroidery.
 7. The necktie restraining device recited in claim 1 whereinsaid device includes indicia.
 8. The necktie restraining device recitedin claim 1 wherein said neckwear apparel includes a necktie.